Results 1,601-1,620 of 2,163 for speaker:John Cummins

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I would like to raise the issue of sports capital funding. There is much speculation as to when an announcement will ultimately be made on it. The announcement of it was moved to the new year. We have been able to maximise the level of funding available to sports clubs as a result of that. Therefore, it was a welcome move. Clubs are contacting me, as I am sure they are contracting every...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I will jump straight in and follow on from where Deputy Andrews left off. Has leasing played an important role in reducing reliance on emergency accommodation? Is it not better to have someone in accommodation under a secure 15 or 20 year lease rather than in HAP or emergency accommodation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: Absolutely, I could not agree more with Ms Hayes. That is an important message. It is often lost in the arguments that are made in here at committee and also in the Dáil and Seanad Chambers, and in the media ultimately. It is about people and finding them solutions so that they can improve and better their lives. I thank Ms Hayes and Ms Timmons, and Ms Breathnach, in particular,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: Has that reduced or eliminated the need for bed and breakfast accommodation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: That is a fantastic news story. If it can be achieved in an urban area such as Waterford - obviously it will take longer to address the challenges in Dublin - it certainly shows that progress can be made. This is addressed to Ms Timmons in relation to the Department. I have requested that targets be placed on local authorities for the repair and lease scheme ad nauseamfor 12 months and it...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I will leave it with last point. It should not be the case that Waterford has 50% of all of the repair and lease units in the country. It is clearly working and it is having a positive impact.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: We previously made a recommendation on the homeless HAP uplift. In my experience in Waterford, there is a difficulty because the HAP limits are artificially low and we can only have a 20% uplift whereas in Dublin it can go to 50%. That is causing quite a problem. When the Minister visited the integrated hub in Waterford he said he was considering the matter, and he is on record in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: Does Ms Timmons have an update on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I emphasise its urgency. I know Ms Timmons is aware of that but it would be greatly appreciated if we could get movement on this.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I will just take the first couple of minutes and then hand over Deputy Higgins. I think it was Mr. Dennigan who, in response to Senator Fitzpatrick, seemed reluctant to say that leasing had a benefit. Am I taking that up wrong? What are his thoughts in relation to that? Obviously, anything that increases supply and provides people with secure tenancies is surely of benefit in keeping...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: Further to that, before I hand over to Deputy Higgins, there is no constraint on the use of the repair and lease scheme by the approved housing bodies. It has been used to great success in Waterford in providing those exact one- and two-bedroom properties that we are talking about here today. They have a role in removing people from homeless or emergency accommodation and in providing them...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Interim Report on Homelessness: Discussion (8 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: The structure is the responsibility of the owner of the property, under the repair and lease scheme, as I am sure Mr. Dennigan is aware. That is the main constraint or concern in relation to the full structure of the building. Mr. Dennigan has answered that sufficiently and I will hand over to Deputy Higgins.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the witnesses for their attendance this afternoon. It is much appreciated. This is important legislation, which I broadly support. It seeks to provide legal protections for newly discovered archaeological sites, to establish a single register of monuments, to provide a clear statutory basis for the Commissioner of Public Works or relevant local authorities to manage monuments and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I appreciate that. I am just asking for the views of An Taisce.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: An Taisce would have a difficulty with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: Could that be responded to in writing?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: General Scheme of the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (3 Feb 2022)

John Cummins: I thank the Chairman for that.